I know B.W. Darr's reputation for bullet moulds is excellent. For those of you that knew him, what other shooting tools did he make? I have seen one bullet lube pump, and of course the bullet moulds. Was there anything else?

Thanks in advance ...

He must have made barrels, also. I have one of his rifling machines by way of Ken Meyer. Someday, I’ll use it.

I have a breech seating tool he made me when in Carpenteria Ca. He also barreled a take down hi wall in 32-40 with false muzzle and guide starter for me. Still have molds, grease pump and seater.

I regularly compete with a Stevens that Barry rebarreled in the mid '70s.  False muzzle with starter, bullet mold ect.  It's very accurate. Barrel #341, number 4 wt.  Love that rifle!

Regards,
Joe

i had the privilege to know Barry and shoot with him in Modesto,Ca. He was a fellow swabby and we yakked about our service. IMHO Barry made some fine rifle barrels, two of which I own. I would put his barrels up against any others for workmanship and finish and I have RKS, Douglas xx, Shilen, Krieger, Badger, Clerke and Hoch. Once i learn to shoot them I will know more.

Barry Darr lived with me and family for two plus years. He took over where the last great rifle builders took off and made the same as them. He worked for Saeco and was in charge of their bullet mould making department. His Rifle shop was right next door and it was not related to Saeco. He followed allot of what Schoyen did with his barrel making. He drilled, reamed and rifled his own barrels and up to 32 caliber where 7 groove and over were 9 groove. His re&de capper was basically a Otto A Bremer's design. He also built quite a few complete rifles and below is one he built from an original HiWall action back in 1972 and one I owned. He was a very active competitor back in the east and shot with Buck and Dorthy Emmert and other well known names in the surrounding area. He is the one who actually got the Coors matches started in Golden Colorado with the help of Coors top man. He still holds some unbroken records today. One would have to write a book to really know the man. He did two tours in Vietnam in the river boats and he rifled his first barrel at 21. He also attended Cal Poly's and an engineer. Not sure what else to add and if you have any questions please free to just ask. He closed his business when the owner of Saeco died. As the new owner moved the business into a bad area in LA were he would not raise his children nor to live. 

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

Joe I don't recall any conversations in regards to rimfire barrels or rifles so unfortunately I cannot honestly answer your question.

Ken I totally agree all though he did not stay in the barrel making business as long as some of the rest. He did more in support of the Schuetzen sport than anyone I know. What folks don't realize is he actually took off from where Pope, Schoyen, Zischang, Petterson had left off. Good example is the full muzzle loading Laudensauk HiWall out fit that I had posted in an earlier post. He is the one who followed doing the same as where of them had left off. I can remember back around the 70's when his barrels were winning and setting all of the new records. Most everyone in the Modesto Schuetzen group had Darr barrels at that time.